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Politics : PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: steve harris who wrote (465738)	9/26/2003 7:40:53 PM
From: Lizzie Tudor	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 769670

I am not interested in this line of dialogue, "the UN is a failure" etc. Let me give you an example of a UN success. IRAQ. The UN said there were no weapons and there are no weapons. We have an immature president who went in there with his bravado and ego and now we are stuck with the GD bill. Get ready for the employment numbers and revised up deficit figures. Anybody could do a better job than Bush. Walter Mondale even.

To: steve harris who wrote (465738)	9/26/2003 7:46:34 PM
From: Gordon A. Langston	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 769670

This is the UN's version. I'm not sure how long the list would be if we dwelt on failures or setbacks. Sometimes it's all related to a particular POV and optimism or pessimism. Successful operations, where the U.N. had the resources and the support it needed to achieve its mandate, illustrate the benefits to both the United States and the world community of a strengthened United Nations. While not a perfect tool, peacekeeping is a proven means of reducing violence and enabling nations to respond to conflict without assuming the risks and costs of acting alone. The following missions are examples of such successes. U.N. Peacekeeping Operations: Missions Accomplished El Salvador: Ending Civil War & Holding Free and Fair Elections 1991 - April 1995 Accomplishments: Successfully implemented peace accord, ending 12 years of bloody civil war. Disarmed combatants and created conditions for free and fair elections. Monitored human rights abuses while dismantling existing security forces and beginning creation of a civilian police force. Provided buffer, police and humanitarian observer force to implement peace accord and monitor elections. Helped maintain public order pending the creation of a national civilian police. Iraq and Kuwait: Deterring Violence 1991 - present Accomplishments: Monitored withdrawal of armed forces. Monitored Kyawr 'Abd-Allah waterway and the borders at patrol bases in the demilitarized zone. Provided technical assistance to the United Nations Iraq-Kuwait Boundary Demarcation Commission and assisted relocation of Iraqi citizens from Kuwait to Iraq. Cambodia: Assisting the Rebirth of a Nation 1992 - 1993 Accomplishments: Conducted peaceful, free and fair elections. Helped establish new constitution and government. Investigated ceasefire violations and illegal return of forces. Destroyed weapons caches and demined major roads. Monitored human rights violations while providing human rights training for military police and judicial personnel. Achieved limited disarmament. Provided humanitarian relief, and helped repatriate 370,000 Cambodian refugees. Mozambique: Shifting from bullets to ballots 1992 - January 1995 Accomplishments: Organized free and fair elections. Monitored withdrawal of Zimbabwean and Malawian troops and conducted investigations of ceasefire violations. Demobilized over 80,000 troops and secured transportation corridors. Facilitated the return of 1.5 million refugees. Delivered humanitarian aid and provided technical assistance. Monitored and verified ceasefire, demobilized forces, and destroyed weapons. Provided security to transportation corridors. Coordinated and monitored humanitarian assistance, provided technical assistance, and monitored elections. Namibia: Creating a Free Country 1989 - 1990 Accomplishments: Achieved ceasefire and peaceful withdrawal of South African troops. Held free and fair elections, demobilized South African forces, and won release of prisoners. Helped repeal repressive legislation and create a new and independent government in Namibia. Afghanistan & Pakistan: Monitoring Troop Withdrawals 1988 - 1990 Accomplishments: U.N. Secretary General's good offices led to negotiation of the Geneva Accords. Soviet withdrawal successfully completed with U.N. monitoring. Outposts established to assure withdrawal. Violations of Geneva Accords investigated to extent possible, some refugees returned. Golan Heights: Maintaining the Peace 1974 - present Accomplishments: Patrolled bases along ceasefire line. Established check-points and observation posts along the boundary of separation. Disengaged troops and established 24-hour observation patrols. Carried out inspections of arms and force levels. Arranged for transfer of prisoners and war dead and offered humanitarian assistance. Suez Canal, Sinai: Silencing Weapons and Keeping the Peace 1973 - 1979 Accomplishments: Achieved ceasefire and facilitated separation and withdrawal of troops. Monitored borders and carried out inspections through checkpoints along buffer zone. Provided communication, delivered humanitarian aid, and helped exchange prisoners. Maintained ceasefire during operation. West New Guinea: Assuring Peaceful Transfer of Power 1962 - 1963 Accomplishments: Successfully implemented all provisions for the peaceful transfer of power in West New Guinea. Assured peaceful negotiations between the Netherlands and Indonesia throughout transition process. Maintained order and improved economic, health and education services in West New Guinea. India & Pakistan: Monitoring breaches to the peace 1965 - 1966; 1949 - present Accomplishments: Monitored ceasefire. Eased tensions and prevented military escalation along ceasefire line in Kashmir. In 1965-1966, monitored breaches in the ceasefire that helped facilitate the Tashkent Agreements which led to complete withdrawal of Indian and Pakistani troops in 1966.